by Willow DuBrovin
Carastina DuBrovin doesn’t spill the tea, she whips the butter. Her small-batch, handcrafted flavored butters are turning local tables into moments worth savoring. Just a spoonful of her various flavors cracks down the kitchen time with instant flavor.
Carastina isn’t new to reinvention, she’s been in many industries. From European fashion modeling, restaurateuring, real estate selling, to textile researching, she’s always been a storyteller, and now tells her story through flavor. A proud Hamptons local and mother of two daughters, Carastina lives by a simple motto: “I’ll have some bread with my butter.” To her, butter isn’t just a condiment, it’s a lifestyle.
The idea for Butter Me Up came from countless kitchen experiments and a deep desire to bring something more beautiful, nostalgic, and bold to the East End’s food scene. Launched in May 2024 at the Sag Harbor Farmers Market, Butter Me Up quickly caught the attention of locals who craved more than the ordinary flavor of standard butter. The love spread fast, and what started as a project became a full-fledged business, rooted in community and flavor.
Expanding now more than ever, Butter Me Up displays their jars at several farmers markets across the East End, each appearance a chance to sample the latest flavors fresh from the churn. Carastina sets up shop every Thursday at the Montauk Farmers Market from 9 AM to 2 PM, and on Sundays at the Babylon Farmers Market. During winter months, she joins the Huntington Farmers Market, keeping the butter love alive year-round with special holiday flavors. The upcoming Montauk Fall Festival in October promises seasonal specials and new collaborations that bring together local food lovers.
Butter Me Up has also found a permanent home on shelves across Long Island and beyond. Locals spot the jars next to their favorite jams, cheeses, and breads in beloved stores like Amber Waves in Amagansett and Share the Harvest in East Hampton, both known for curating sustainable and seasonal goods. In Sag Harbor, Serene Green Farm carries the butters alongside fresh produce, while Farm & Forage in Southampton offers chef-quality ingredients for home cooks looking to elevate their meals.
For seafood lovers, The Seafood Shop in Wainscott is a natural fit, and meat aficionados know to pair their cuts with Butter Me Up spreads found at Babylon Village Meat Market and Village Prime Meat Shoppe in East Quogue. Hampton Fruit and Vegetable also stocks the butters, making it easy to pick up fresh produce and her rich flavors in one stop.
Beyond traditional shopping, Butter Me Up partners with Rustic Roots Delivery to bring local, organic, and sustainable food straight to your doorstep, from Montauk to New York City, including Shelter and Fire Islands. It’s a perfect match for anyone who values quality ingredients without the fuss of the supermarket.
Every jar of Butter Me Up starts with 82% fat grass-fed butter, made in small batches in a commercial kitchen in Hampton Bays rented from Honest Plate. Carastina hand-mixes each batch with care, no preservatives, no additives, no shortcuts. Just real, pure butter and thoughtfully sourced ingredients. Butter Me Up’s flavor lineup also reflects both the seasons and Carastina’s love for bold, clean tastes with a bit of East End flair. Although her five core flavors are Garden of Eve, Limoncello, Sunday Branch, Hampton’s Cowboy, and Double Truffle, her seasonal butters can range from Bloody Mary butter, Pumpkin Spice, Sugar Cookie, Cupid’s Cocoa, to Goldberg’s Everything.
Customers reportedly glaze Hampton’s Cowboy on tomahawk steaks, Limoncello on fresh lobster, and Sunday Brunch on pancakes and french toast. With many ways to use it, this butter has become your genie in the kitchen.
Butter Me Up also thrives on collaboration, joining forces with other local makers to create unique pairings. In Sag Harbor, Carastina has teamed up with Kidd Squid Brewing Co. to craft Shortfin Butter, inspired by their flagship Session IPA. The beer-infused butter delivers subtle coastal notes and umami smoothness, available in the brewery’s refrigerated section.
Another new standout partnership is with Pindar Vineyards, a Peconic North Fork institution for 45 years. Introduced at the Montauk Farmers Market, Carastina and Pindar Damianos joined forces to create Blush’n Bloom, a butter infused with summer blush wine, fresh strawberry, and mint for a light, fruity, and elegant taste.
At its core, Butter Me Up is about more than flavor, it’s about community, family, and slowing down enough to savor life’s small pleasures. Carastina’s daughters are deeply involved, turning the company into a true family affair where passion and purpose meet.
As a woman-owned, family-run, and unapologetically local company, the brand refuses to compromise on quality or character. Every batch is a reminder that butter can be fun, familiar, and unforgettable all at once. So whether you’re at the market tasting a fresh batch, browsing store shelves, or spreading a dollop on your morning toast, remember this is butter made to be savored, and designed to bring a little more joy to your day.